Rahul Gandhi began his three-day whistle-stop tour of West Bengal on Tuesday?seen as a bid to boost the party?s chances in the Left-ruled state?with a visit to Visva Bharati University in Shantiniketan.

During his interaction with scholars, Rahul evaded a direct reply to a question on his becoming PM. ?Prime minister is not the only person who can solve all problems. Prime ministership is not only the job in the world,? Rahul reportedly said.

Rahul?s response came to a query from a research scholar from Sangeet Bhawan, the music faculty of the university. The scholar asked Rahul how he would have solved their department?s problems had he been PM.

Rahul said the PM cannot solve all problems and everybody should take the initiative in serving the nation. ?There are so many ways we can serve the country,? he said at the interaction in which the media was not allowed.

The Congress leader is touring the state to mobilise workers ahead of the Assembly elections next year. This is his second visit to the state in less than a fortnight.

Rahul was invited by the university to inaugurate an exhibition on Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi?three chancellors of the university founded by Rabindra Nath Tagore.

After the inauguration, Rahul attended an interactive session with students and scholars. The session was cordial as Rahul addressed the students directly and did not allow any moderator.

Before the session, Rahul visited Rabindra museum, where photographs of Nehru, Indira and Rajiv are being displayed.

At the interactive session, Rahul talked on corruption and other problems. ?If you are loud about corruption every one will clap. But we have to work against corruption. There are people who are silently working against corruption, but people do not know them,? Gandhi said.

Rahul told the students he got 5,000 letters every day on various issues and admitted it was not possible to go through all of them. He said he was open to guiding those who write to him.

According to an official, Rahul said he could not say anything about people writing to the ?Prime Minister, chief ministers or others?.